Better That Undocumented Immigrants Have Driver's Licenses

Granting drivers licenses to undocumented immigrants rewards people for bad behavior — living in the country illegally — opponents of the policy complain.

That's an unthinking, ungenerous attitude and ultimately a self-defeating one.

Everybody should want all drivers, including the undocumented, to be trained, licensed and insured. That's the aim of a program authorized by the General Assembly this past session.

Phase one of the program began Monday, when a crowd of 5,000-plus undocumented state residents signed up online for an appointment to take a written driving test from the Department of Motor Vehicles. That so many signed up proves the need.

If licensing the undocumented works as intended, the roads will be safer and there will be fewer uninsured drivers. The licensing is for driving privileges only. It has nothing to do with citizenship status.

Connecticut and California this year are joining eight other states that permit undocumented residents to obtain driver's licenses. The nearest state with such a program is Vermont. The Pew Research Center estimated there were about 130,000 undocumented immigrants living in Connecticut in 2012.

Adults who pass the written test will hold a learner's permit for at least three months before taking a driving test. In the interim, they are required to take eight hours of driving classes. Teen drivers face even more stringent requirements.

Many of the undocumented drive now — they have the same needs as everybody else — to get to work, to take their kids to the doctor or to school, to run essential errands. But because they live in the shadows, they don't apply for licenses or register their vehicles.

State lawmakers were right to create the drive-only license. The roads will be safer for everybody.